Despicable Me Movies: Release Order
The Despicable Me franchise is a remarkably consistent animated series that follows the journey of supervillain Gru as he transforms from world-class criminal to devoted father. This release order watch list presents the story as audiences originally experienced it, with the Minions prequel films arriving after we've already fallen in love with these yellow comedic sidekicks.
Watching in release order allows character development and world-building to unfold naturally, with the Minions backstory providing delightful context rather than setup. The franchise maintains impressive continuity throughout all six films, with no reboots or timeline confusion - just pure, family-friendly storytelling that delivers both laughs and heart.
There is 1 other watch order available – see the link up above.
Despicable Me
A supervillain's ambitious plan to steal the moon gets complicated when three orphaned girls unexpectedly enter his life. As Gru cares for the children, his cold heart begins to warm in this animated comedy about family and redemption.
Minions
Three Minions named Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by super-villain Scarlet Overkill and her inventor husband Herb in their scheme to take over the world.
Despicable Me 3
Gru and his wife Lucy face off against Balthazar Bratt, a former 1980s child star turned supervillain who threatens world domination.
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Young Gru dreams of joining his favorite supervillain group, the Vicious 6, and devises a plan to prove his evil credentials with help from his loyal Minions.
Despicable Me 4
Gru and Lucy welcome a new baby to their family while facing a dangerous new villain named Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, forcing them to go into hiding to protect their loved ones.
Other Film Series
Asterix
French comic book adaptations following the adventures of Asterix and Obelix in ancient Gaul, spanning both animated and live-action films over five decades.
Ice Age
A family-friendly animated series following prehistoric friends Manny, Sid, and Diego through various ice age adventures.
Madagascar
Animated adventure series following zoo animals on wild adventures around the world.
Pixar
Pioneering animation studio behind groundbreaking computer-animated films from Toy Story to modern masterpieces.
The Land Before Time
An animated dinosaur franchise following young dinosaurs on their adventures, beginning with Don Bluth's acclaimed 1988 film.
Toy Story
Pixar's groundbreaking animated franchise following the secret lives of toys and their adventures with their human owners.